02

Nov

Kwaito producer defrauds artistes

Gibson Mhaka
SOUTH Africa-based Zimbabwean kwaito singer Kwanele Maestro Moyo who is also a music producer and promoter is at the centre of a fraud storm.
Moyo popularly known as Maestro in the entertainment circles and runs MBC Production and Records Company is accused of defrauding upcoming artistes in the name of helping them.

Upcoming artistes who spoke to B-Metro have warned other artistes against working with Maestro, labelling him a “fraudster”.

They said every conversation they had with him ranging from producing and marketing their music as well as management of artistes was fabricated.

Caroline “Queen C” Sibanda claimed she was allegedly defrauded of R1 100 by Maestro. This was after the latter allegedly failed to fulfil his promise of helping her produce her song.

According to Moyo, Maestro was also allegedly soliciting upcoming artistes to bring their music to his recording company for marketing before he duped them.

“When I met Maestro he convinced me he was a seasoned producer and promised to assist me produce my songs.

“In a bid to dupe me he said he owns a studio in South Africa before he asked me to pay R1 100 for the production. But after a month of big talk and bigger promises, it all started to fall apart.

“I later found out that I had been duped and when I started demanding back my money he refused before blocking me on WhatsApp,” an irate Sibanda said.

Another upcoming artiste Sensazi Khumalo aka Mqapheleni Matshobana who also claimed he was duped by Maestro had no kind words for him. He labelled him a “serial fraudster”.

“He duped me R650 after he approached me saying he was going to promote my music. He said the R650 was a joining fee for his MBC Production and Records Company.

“After paying the money in question he started giving me excuses each time I approached him until I got fed up.

“As a way of stopping me from bothering him, he blocked me on all social media platforms. Investigations later revealed that they were a lot of upcoming artistes who have also been duped,” said Khumalo.

He said even up to now efforts to engage Maestro in order to get his money back proved difficult.

“What Maestro is doing is not good. Just imagine upcoming artistes are losing a lot of money and their dreams are being crushed because of his greedy actions.

“His ill-gotten ways of making money will definitely catch up with him one day,” said one of the victims who wanted to remain anonymous, adding that Maestro had also threatened to “deal” with them for reporting him to the Press.

When asked about the allegations his potential clients had made against him Maestro responded:
“You’re just going to do what you’re going to do. These allegations levelled against me are not true. I don’t care what these guys are saying about me.”